The pursuit of happiness, science, and effective staffing: the leader's challenge

It should be intuitive that happy people produce better results than unhappy people. It should be intuitive that leaders must be singularly focused on how they can create happiness within their companies so that people can grow and thrive and reach sustainable organizational goals. But in spite of such common sense, the data show us people are not too happy at work and it is not getting better. Health care has much to learn about creating happiness that in turn creates a positive return on investment financially, as well as on patient outcomes and the well-being, growth, and productivity of the staff. We need a serious call to action in health care that will implement the research about happy organizations and their success. Our stakes are high; we must do no harm.